Fans of the Colombian national soccer team respond to television news cameras, waving their national flags, in front of the hotel where the Colombian national soccer team is staying in Fortaleza, Brazil, Thursday, July 3, 2014. Colombian supporters are in Fortaleza hoping to see some history being made in this northeastern World Cup city where Brazil and Colombia face off in the World Cup quarterfinals, Saturday. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (The Associated Press)

A young man holds a microphone up to fans decked out in the team colors of the Colombian national soccer team as they are interviewed by a television reporter in front of the hotel where the South American team is lodging in Fortaleza, Brazil, Thursday, July 3, 2014. Colombian supporters are in Fortaleza hoping to see some history being made in this northeastern World Cup city where Brazil and Colombia face off in the World Cup quarterfinals, Saturday. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (The Associated Press)

A fan of the Colombian national soccer team holds a pose, as his friend makes a picture of him in front of the hotel where the Colombian team is lodging in Fortaleza, Brazil, Thursday, July 3, 2014. Colombian supporters are in Fortaleza hoping to see some history being made in this northeastern World Cup city where Brazil and Colombia face off in the World Cup quarterfinals, Saturday. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (The Associated Press)

A Colombian TV reporter works in front of the hotel where the Colombian national soccer team is staying, in Fortaleza, Brazil, Thursday, July 3, 2014. Colombian supporters are in Fortaleza hoping to see some history being made in this northeastern World Cup city where Brazil and Colombia face off in the World Cup quarterfinals, Saturday. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) (The Associated Press)

FORTALEZA, Brazil – After 25 attempts, Colombia has only beaten Brazil twice, and never managed it on Brazilian soil.

Father-and-son Colombia supporters Orlando and Sebastian Duque are in Fortaleza hoping to see some history being made in this northeastern World Cup city on Friday.

The pair have followed "Los Cafeteros" on a 10,000-kilometer (6,200-mile) trip to five Brazilian cities as their team has grown from group favorite to tournament dark horse — with four wins, 11 goals and a quarterfinal against host nation Brazil.

In Fortaleza, they waited outside the team hotel with about 200 other Colombians for a glimpse of players as they left for a training session. They chanted "James, James" — in honor of World Cup's top scorer so far, 22-year-old James Rodriguez, the boyish-looking striker who has found the net five times.

"We can do it this time, because our team is completely different now. They are very focused," said 21-year-old Sebastian Duque, standing next to his father who was wearing a bright yellow wig and matching Colombia team shirt with the name "James" printed on the back.

"The other teams rely heavily on a single player. Argentina has (Lionel) Messi, and it's similar with Brazil and Neymar. But we are a team. And we have many options to score. If James doesn't score, we have (Juan) Cuadrado and Jackson Martinez."

Coached by Argentine veteran Jose Pekerman, Colombia has soared in the world rankings from 35th place to the top five, and kept its momentum going despite losing star striker Radamel Falcao to a knee injury before the World Cup.

Colombia's army of traveling supporters and South American solidarity has meant the players could count on a home-ground atmosphere as they breezed past their opponents: beating Greece 3-0, Ivory Coast 2-1, Japan 4-1 and Uruguay 2-0.

That luxury will end in Fortaleza, which hosts its last match Friday.

Difficult flight connections from Colombia and the accumulated cost of travel for supporters means the visitors are likely to be heavily outnumbered at Arena Castelao.

Still, the fans that came were a pleasant curiosity to locals as they partied along the sea front, copying Colombia's hip-swinging goal celebration dance and chanting "Messi, Neymar, James is your daddy."

Orlando Duque, who runs an insurance business in the Colombian city of Medellin, admitted he could not stay away from work any longer and would have to head home after the game here.

"Whatever happens, that's it for us," he said.

The country's most famous fan, pop star Shakira, has continuously voiced her support for the team on Twitter, writing after the last win: "We're through to the quarters! Huge thanks to James! Best in the world so far! (Goalkeeper David) Ospina was simply amazing! Shak #COL."

She was joined by other celebrities including actor Will Smith, pictured in a Colombia shirt, and pop singer Rihanna.

It's been warmly welcomed in image-conscious Colombia, which last played in the World Cup in 1994. The country has battled with a spike in guerrilla warfare, high profile kidnappings, and violent billionaire cocaine traffickers.

For Sebastian Duque, success at this tournament might help the world see his country in better light.

"All of the (trouble) was 20 or 25 years ago. It's completely changed now," he said. "Colombia is a great place and things are going well — the economy, tourism ... Hopefully people will start to see that. At least, slowly."

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AP writer Santiago Torrado in Fortaleza contributed

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Follow Gatopoulos at http://www.twitter.com/dgatopoulos and Torrado at http://www.twitter.com/santorrado